Alaska Supreme Court Affirms Dismissal of PsychRights v. Alaska

Told you so!

Alaska Supreme Court Affirms Dismissal of 

PsychRights v. Alaska 

On October 1, 2010, the Alaska Supreme Court affirmed the dismissal of Law Project for 

Psychiatric Rights v. State of Alaska, on the grounds that it lacked standing to bring the lawsuit seeking to stop the state from psychiatrically drugging children and youth unless and until:  

(i) evidence-based psychosocial interventions have been exhausted,  

(ii)  rationally anticipated benefits of psychotropic drug treatment outweigh the risks,  

(iii)  the person or entity authorizing administration of the drug(s) is fully informed, and  

(iv) close monitoring of, and appropriate means of responding to, treatment emergent 

effects are in place. 

Jim Gottstein, President of PsychRights, said, "We are disappointed but will continue our efforts to stop, or even just reduce, the harm to children and youth through inappropriate government subsidized psychiatric drugging. 

"Government officials have abdicated their responsibility to the children of Alaska and with this decision the Alaska Supreme Court has rejected this particular PsychRights efforts to correct the situation."   

The Supreme Court identified a couple of alternative approaches and PsychRights is reviewing its options. 

Alaska Supreme Court Slip Opinion Dismissing Law Project For Psychiatric Rights v. State of Alaska